Trial of Self-Care Class Incorporating Mindfulness Practices for Patients with Psychosomatic Disease

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation has been integrated into self-care class for patients with psychosomatic disease. The class was intended to enable them to proactively provide self-care on physical and psychological health through enhancing their awareness on their own states and to take an appropriate course of actions. Program of the class consisted of psychological education and meditation practices to enhance attention regulations. Saliva amylase and subjective evaluation on their physical and psychological states were measured before and after the program and compared. Self-report and free talk were introduced from the perspective specific to mindfulness components. Self-care class incorporating mindfulness practices might activate patients’ inner resource and enhance their awareness of “here and now” experiences, which might change the relationships with their own inner experiences and lead to appropriate management. This also suggests possibilities of improving symptoms and preventing relapse. Adaptability of patients and timing, motivation and contents of program should be further examined.